In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 1,139 deaths in the state. 25% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 7.4% were from COVID-19.
Studies show doctors and medical examiners may underreport Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related conditions as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Once infected, older adults with dementia are likely to develop a more severe and dangerous illness. The diseases which make an older adult more vulnerable to COVID-19 are age-associated chronic conditions, according to the Bright Focus Foundation.
New Jersey top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 285 | 25 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 254 | 22.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 52 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 46 | 4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 32 | 2.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 30 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 0.9 |
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